LIGHTS OUT LOUISVILLE
LIGHT POLLUTION KILLS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF MIGRATING BIRDS IN
THE USA EACH YEAR, BUT YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THAT.
Learn more at our dedicated website: www.lightsoutlouisville.org
LIGHT POLLUTION KILLS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF MIGRATING BIRDS IN
THE USA EACH YEAR, BUT YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THAT.
Learn more at our dedicated website: www.lightsoutlouisville.org
A small portion of the thousands of birds that died colliding with buildings in downtown Philadelphia on
October 2, 2020. Photo: Courtesy of Stephen Maciejewski
THE PROBLEM
Every year, billions of birds fly between wintering and breeding grounds, migrating north in the spring and south in the fall, while facing innumerable threats along the way. Most birds fly at night, navigating by the stars and moon.
However, as they pass over cities and suburbs, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights and sky glow.
This often causes them to collide with buildings or windows. Artificial light at night can also throw birds off their migration paths. This issue impacts hundreds of North American species.
WHAT IS LIGHTS OUT?
Lights Out is a nationwide effort led by the National Audubon Society to help migrating birds by working with building owners, managers, and residents to voluntarily turn off unnecessary lights during periods when lights are most likely to affect migrating or nocturnal birds—specifically between ~ end of March through May in the spring and ~the end of August through October in the fall.
Lights Out Louisville joins 50 other cities nationwide participating in the Lights Out campaign to reduce the staggering number of bird deaths a year caused by light pollution.
Every year, billions of birds fly between wintering and breeding grounds, migrating north in the spring and south in the fall, while facing innumerable threats along the way. Most birds fly at night, navigating by the stars and moon.
However, as they pass over cities and suburbs, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights and sky glow.
This often causes them to collide with buildings or windows. Artificial light at night can also throw birds off their migration paths. This issue impacts hundreds of North American species.
WHAT IS LIGHTS OUT?
Lights Out is a nationwide effort led by the National Audubon Society to help migrating birds by working with building owners, managers, and residents to voluntarily turn off unnecessary lights during periods when lights are most likely to affect migrating or nocturnal birds—specifically between ~ end of March through May in the spring and ~the end of August through October in the fall.
Lights Out Louisville joins 50 other cities nationwide participating in the Lights Out campaign to reduce the staggering number of bird deaths a year caused by light pollution.
We ask that from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., during peak migration months (April and May in the spring; September and October in the fall), you:
- Turn off all unnecessary lights indoors and outdoors. If you need lights on inside, closing window shades or drapes will prevent “sky glow” from emitting into the environment.
- For outdoor lights, use motion detectors, so lights turn on only when needed.
- Shield lights on the top, so light shines down, where we actually need it, and not up into the sky, where we do not.
DOING THIS IS A WIN-WIN STRATEGY. HERE'S WHY:
Not only can we minimize unnecessary bird deaths, we can also save money by reducing energy use! Commercial buildings spend $141 billion a year on energy, and of that, $119 billion is spent on electricity. So turning off unnecessary lights for 7 hours at night not only helps protect migrating birds. It also makes fiscal sense!
HELP LOUISVILLE AUDUBON SOCIETY implement this simple strategy so our city can provide birds safe passage between their nesting and wintering grounds twice a year.
Not only can we minimize unnecessary bird deaths, we can also save money by reducing energy use! Commercial buildings spend $141 billion a year on energy, and of that, $119 billion is spent on electricity. So turning off unnecessary lights for 7 hours at night not only helps protect migrating birds. It also makes fiscal sense!
HELP LOUISVILLE AUDUBON SOCIETY implement this simple strategy so our city can provide birds safe passage between their nesting and wintering grounds twice a year.
KET's Kentucky Edition
Season 2 Episode 231, April 18, 2024
Interview with Louisville Audubon Society about "Lights Out Louisville"
Season 2 Episode 231, April 18, 2024
Interview with Louisville Audubon Society about "Lights Out Louisville"
3.8 million birds flew over Jefferson County in the evening and early morning hours of Derby Day 2023. That's more than 25 times the number of Derby attendees that day!
3,765,000 birds migrated over Jefferson County, Kentucky, on the night after Derby last year (from 8:40 p.m. May 6 to ~6:00 a.m. May 7, 2023
3,765,000 birds migrated over Jefferson County, Kentucky, on the night after Derby last year (from 8:40 p.m. May 6 to ~6:00 a.m. May 7, 2023
From: https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/live-migration-maps/
In the fall, birds migrate south to their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central and South America. Look how many flew on this one night alone!
From: https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/live-migration-maps/